The party’s goal is to have a councillor stand in every ward of the Cynon Valley for the local government election next May, and to represent the Cynon Valley on Rhondda Cynon Taf council .

Graham Marsh, 57, is a founding member of The Cynon Valley Party

Cynon Valley shares the Labour-led local authority area with the constituencies of Rhondda and Pontypridd.

Mr Marsh, who owns the Valleys Schoolwear business in Aberdare town centre, said he was pleased with how the party had fared in its first fortnight – though he would not reveal how many members it had, nor how many people turned up to its first meeting in Aberdare on September 20.

'Bringing local politics to communities'

He said: “It’s gone fantastically, with the response we’ve had from residents – especially since we were announced in the press.

“We’ve had people walk up to us and congratulate us in the street, on what we are doing.